Shoulder-brace.



PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908.

G. T. FOLTZ.

SHOULDER BRAGE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1907.

W1 JEN/$555 A TTOR/VE 1/5 ma/m UNITED [s'r TEs PATENT prion.

GEORGE T. FOLTZ, OF WYTHEVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SHOULDER-BRACE. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 28, 1908 Application filed March 5. 1907. Serial No. 360.631.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, GEORGE T. FoLTz, a

citizen of the United States, residing at ight and durable in construction and which can be easily placed in position. i

A still further ob'ect is to provide a shoulder brace having meanswhereby the straps are prevented from pinching the wearer.

Shoulder braces such as ave heretofore been constructed of separate shoulder receiving loops have been found objectionable because the adjoining or small ends of the loops reference, 1 is a often pinch the wearer when the brace is shifted by the movement of the shoulders.

It is the principal object of the invention to overcome this objectionable result without materially adding to the size, of the brace or to the cost thereof.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing the shoulder brace applied; Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the pad and showing the adjoining portion of the loop which is secured thereto; and Fig. 3 is a view of the pad and the adjoining portions of the loops of a modified form of brace.

Referring to the figures by characters of pad formed of leather or other suitable material, the same being preferably in the form of a strip having rounded ends as shown at 2'. Secured to or formed with this pad atopposite sides of the center thereof are retaining straps 3 which extend transversely thereacross. Extending under one of these straps is a tongue 4 formed with or secured to shoulder straps 5 which are disposed at an acute angle and the end of the pad normally projects beyond the inner or adjoining ed es of these straps so as to prevent the clotliing or flesh of the wearer from becoming wedged within the angle formed by the straps. One strap 5 is longer than the other and is designed to extend over and under the shoulder of the wearer and to en-.

gage a buckle 6 which is secured to the other strap. A buckle 7 is fastened to the tongue 4 and is designed to engage a tongue 8 extending from a forked strap, the upper mem her 9 of which is similar to the upper strap 5 and is designed to engage a buck e 10 upon the lower strap member 9 whichis similar to the corresponding strap 5. This tongue 8 projects under and is retained by one of the straps 3. The end portion of signed to extend beyond the ork of this strap Qwhen the same is in any of the ositions to which it may be adjusted. It 1s to be understood that the tongues 4 and S can be easily slipped out of the straps 3 when it is desired to cleanthe parts-or to store them in a small com ass.

In using the race the tongue 8 is secured to buckle 7 and the straps 5 and 9 are disengaged from their buckles 6 and 10 respectively. Said straps are then fastened around the shoulders of the wearer and drawn ti htly so as to exert a backward pull thereon. The brace can be very easily removed after it has been adjusted to ,the'wearer simply by withdrawing the ton ue 8 from buckle '7, after which the loo s can be separately slipped off of the arms. y reversing this operation the brace can be uickly placed in position. Although the for ed straps are secured to the pad solely by the straps 3 the end ortions of the ad are so proportioned t rat the forks w1l at no time project therebeyond where they can inch the clothing or flesh of the wearer. y constructin a brace in the manner described the same Wlll positively hold the shoulders in desired osltion and can not become accidentally displaced.

Instead of forming the brace of loops which can be adjusted in relation to each other and separately removed the same may ad 1 is de-- be constructed as shown in Fi 3 wherein description it is to be understood that various modifications may be made therein without sacrificing the advantages thereof.

What 1s claimed is:

1. A brace comprising a pad having enlar ed end portions, straps connected to eac end portion of the pad and diseased atan acute angle to each other, sai

stra s being adjustably connected, the end portioiis of the pad extending under and beyond the angles produced by the straps.

2. A brace comprising a ad, loops mounted upon the end portions 1: ereof, and an adjustable connection between the loops.

3. A brace comprising a pad, an adjustable loop extendin from each end portion thereof, and an a .justable connectlon between the loops, said pad constituting means "tongues said pad constituting means for to prevent the loops from pinching at their inner. ortions.

4. brace comprisin a pad, retaining straps thereon, oppositely extending lootps, a tongue upon each loop and detacha ly retained u on the pad by one of the stra s,- and an a jnstable connection between t e 25 preventing pinching by the loops. 4 v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence ,of two Witnesses.

enoacn T. FOLT Z Witnesses:

J Ross CoLnoUN, HERBERT D. LAWsoN. 

